Lockable hinge construction

Abstract

A lockable hinge is disclosed, as well as a panel assembly and panel kit including the hinge. The lockable hinge includes first and second extension members. The lockable hinge also includes a hinge assembly pivotally connecting the first and second extension members about an axis. The hinge assembly includes a first sleeve associated with the first extension member and a second sleeve associated with the second extension member. The hinge assembly further includes a hinge pin mechanism, at least partially within the first sleeve and the second sleeve. The first and second extension members are lockable at a plurality of angular positions by axial movement of at least one of the first sleeve, the second sleeve, or the hinge pin mechanism. Panels can be connected at the lockable hinge. Various structures are thereby constructed.

1 . A lockable hinge, comprising:
 first and second extension members;   a hinge assembly pivotally connecting the first and second extension members about an axis, the hinge assembly including:
 a first sleeve associated with the first extension member; 
 a second sleeve associated with the second extension member, the second sleeve axially aligned with the first sleeve; 
 a hinge pin mechanism at least partially within the first sleeve and the second sleeve; 
   wherein the first and second extension members are lockable at a plurality of angular positions by axial movement of at least one of the first sleeve, the second sleeve, or the hinge pin mechanism.   
   
   
       2 . The lockable hinge of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge pin mechanism is located at least in part within the first and second sleeves. 
   
   
       3 . The lockable hinge of  claim 1 , wherein the first sleeve is integrally formed with the first extension member and the second sleeve is integrally formed with the second extension member. 
   
   
       4 . The lockable hinge of  claim 1 , wherein each extension member includes one or more panel attachment arrangements. 
   
   
       5 . The lockable hinge of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge pin mechanism includes a hinge pin having axial protrusions extending along a portion of the hinge pin. 
   
   
       6 . The lockable hinge of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second sleeve both include axial inner slots configured to interlock with the axial protrusions on the hinge pin. 
   
   
       7 . The lockable hinge of  claim 3 , wherein, in an unlocked position, the axial protrusions interlock with the slots of the first sleeve in the absence of the axial protrusions interlocking with the slots of the second sleeve. 
   
   
       8 . The lockable hinge of  claim 3 , wherein, in a locked position, the axial protrusions interlock with the axial inner slots of the first sleeve and the axial inner slots of the second sleeve. 
   
   
       9 . The lockable hinge of  claim 1 , wherein the second sleeve is adjacent to the first sleeve. 
   
   
       10 . The lockable hinge of  claim 9 , wherein the first sleeve and the second sleeve include interlockable teeth at adjacent edges. 
   
   
       11 . The lockable hinge of  claim 10 , wherein, in an unlocked position, the interlockable teeth are separated by a biasing mechanism. 
   
   
       12 . The lockable hinge of  claim 11 , wherein the hinge pin mechanism includes a clamp having locked and unlocked positions, wherein the clamp is configured to axially move one or both of the first and second sleeves to interlock the interlockable teeth. 
   
   
       13 . The lockable hinge of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second extension each form a sheath, each sheath having a tongue protruding within the sleeve and positioned to be received by a groove in a panel when the panel is held within the sheath. 
   
   
       14 . A panel assembly comprising:
 first and second panels; and   a hinge assembly pivotally connecting the first and second panels about an axis, the hinge assembly including:
 a first extension member attached to the first panel; 
 a second extension member attached to the second panel; 
 a first sleeve associated with the first extension member; 
 a second sleeve associated with the second extension member, the second sleeve axially aligned with the first sleeve; 
 a hinge pin mechanism at least partially within the first sleeve and the second sleeve; 
   wherein the hinge assembly is lockable at a plurality of angular positions by axial movement of at least one of the first sleeve, the second sleeve, or the hinge pin mechanism.   
   
   
       15 . The panel assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first extension member is integrally formed with the first sleeve and the second extension member is integrally formed with the second sleeve. 
   
   
       16 . The panel assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the extension members each include a sheath configured to accept a panel. 
   
   
       17 . The panel assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second panels each include a groove positioned to accept an inwardly oriented tongue protrusion on the sheath. 
   
   
       18 . A panel kit comprising:
 a plurality of panels; and   a plurality of lockable hinges, each lockable hinge including:
 first and second extension members; 
 a hinge assembly pivotally connecting the first and second extension members about an axis, the hinge assembly including:
 a first sleeve associated with the first extension member; 
 a second sleeve associated with the second extension member, the second sleeve axially aligned with the first sleeve; and 
 a hinge pin mechanism at least partially within the first sleeve and the second sleeve; 
 
 wherein the first and second extension members are lockable at a plurality of angular positions by axial movement of at least one of the first sleeve, the second sleeve, or the hinge pin mechanism; 
   wherein the plurality of lockable hinges are attachable to one or more of the plurality of panels.   
   
   
       19 . The panel kit of  claim 18 , wherein each extension member includes one or more panel attachment arrangements. 
   
   
       20 . The panel kit of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of panels include panels of differing sizes and shapes. 
   
   
       21 . The panel kit of  claim 18 , wherein the panel kit forms a child play structure. 
   
   
       22 . A method of building a structure using at least first and second panels having first and second grooves, respectively, and a lockable hinge having first and second extension members including first and second tongues respectively and being lockable in one of a plurality of configurations, the method comprising:
 inserting the first panel into the first extension member until the first tongue snaps into the first groove;   inserting the second panel into the second extension member until the second tongure snaps into the second groove; and   locking the hinge into one of the plurality of configurations.   
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 22 , further comprising: before locking the hinge, moving a hinge pin axially to allow the first and second extensions to move respective to one another. 
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein locking the hinge includes moving a hinge pin axially to lock the first and second extensions respective to one another.